Dulwich Hamlet Aspire Academy Under 18 bow out of playoffs

It was a disappointing afternoon for Dulwich’s ASPIRE Academy coached Under 18s as their season ended in defeat to Kidderminster Harriers.

Competing for the first time in the National Playoffs to determine the overall champions of the Football Conference Youth Alliance, Dulwich Hamlet fell at the first hurdle as their Midlands opponents made more of their opportunities to advance 3-1.

The early exchanges saw plenty of endeavour but little opportunities of note. That all changed on 21 minutes when Kidderminster’s Haden Smith blocked a shot from Brian Testolin on the line. The Harriers lived up to their name as they quickly countered, Reece Jacobs showing a clear pair of heels to the defence before beating Ediz Hoca in the Hamlet goal. Looking composed on the ball, Kidderminster started to take control and were within a whisker of a second not long after. Winger Dan Sweeney, already making his mark in the first team at Aggborough cut from the right and stabbed a low against the foot of the near post. In the chaos that ensued a follow up effort was blocked, the ironmongery rattled again, a lobbed shot clawed away by Hoca before the ball was finally driven wide. Close to the break Dulwich appeals for a penalty went unheeded as Brian Testolin took a tumble in the box. But once again Dulwich fell to the counter, Sweeney’s deep floater in from the wing smacking against the top of the crossbar but rebounding perfectly for Matt Tubb to drill the ball home.

The arrival of Kameiko Pope-Campbell early in the second half gave Dulwich Hamlet fresh impetus and it was from the boot of the substitute that the lads would find a way back into the game. Picking up a pass from Testolin, Pope-Campbell beat the defender then from a tight angle deftly beat ‘keeper Keelan Monger with a rising curler into the far corner of the net. Four minutes later Dereece Thompson went close as Hamlet upped the ante in an increasingly competitive game. A cross from deep out on the right by Ade Batula, deceived Monger only to strike the bar, before falling kindly for a defender to clear. Meanwhile Ediz Hoca was at full stretch to keep out a powerful drive from Sweeney. As sands of time started to run out, the Hamlet custodian had to equally alert to batter away efforts from George Taylor and Lewis Clarke in quick succession. As they strove to find an equaliser, one that send the game to sudden death penalty shootout, Dulwich Hamlet pushed every reinforcement into the attack. But then came the killer blow. With all troops committed to the frontline, Dulwich were caught shorthanded at the back after a free kick was cleared. When the ball was swept in from the flanks to replacement McCauley Manning, he had the simplest of tasks to slam the ball low, hard and home.

Teams:
Dulwich Hamlet: 1 Ediz Hoca; 2 Kiki Oshilaja; 3 Abdul Lyoubi; 4 Osman Proni (12 Tarik Ibrahim 81); 5 Sean Mason; 6 Ricardo Soyoye; 7 Ade Batula; 8 Brandon Hobbs; 9 Klajdi Cani (14 Kameiko Pope-Campbell 52); 10 Dereece Thompson; 11 Brian Testolin
Subs not used: 15 Adrian Brown; 16 Alton Leeward

Kidderminster Harriers: 1 Keelan Monger; 2 Haden Smith; 3 James Hancocks; 4 Ben Clarke; 5 Kieren Finglas; 6 Lewis Clarke; 7 Reece Jacobs (17 Matthew Evans 83); 8 Matthew Tubb; 9 Callum Parker (16 McCauley Manning 67); 10 Jelson Antonio (14 George Taylor 76); 11 Dan Sweeney
Subs not used: 12 Sam Lester; 15 Luke Durbin